Classic Potatoes au Gratin

by jenna on November 19, 2012

Howdy!

We’re in Texas this week and I’m super excited to meet some of you tonight in Austin at BookPeople! Oh Austin….how I love you. We love it so much, actually, that we are getting married here in June. I can’t wait. Along with all the Thanksgiving festivities this week, Adam and I are also going on a rather massive wedding venue hunt. We have about six appointments so far and hopefully picking one of them as our dream wedding spot. Eeek! So many new and exciting things…I still have the we-just-got-engaged-and-I-can’t-stop-smiling look on my face. I don’t think it’s going anywhere any time soon.

I could gush for days on everything engagement but I’m going to hold off for just a moment. Because…what I have to say is important and that is: Potatoes au Gratin is the secret weapon of any great Thanksgiving meal. Oh yes it is.

I mean, it’s technically macaroni and cheese….but made with potatoes. What’s not to love? It’s the best. And it’s a classic that everyone loves.

In this classic dish, paper thin slices of potatoes are smothered in a cheesy white sauce, topped with *more* cheese and breadcrumbs and baked. Well, they are in mine any way. I love the extra crunch that the breadcrumb topping gives.

It’s so good that I can’t even stand it. I like to use a blend of swiss and gruyere cheese, but feel free to use cheddar if you wish. Whatever you do, don’t skimp. No one likes cheese skimpers.

Also, this dish can be assembled and baked a day ahead of time! Just store in the fridge and then reheat in a 375 degree oven for about 45 minutes until hot when you’re ready to serve.

Peel and thinly slice your potatoes. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once melted, sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly until mixture (roux) turns the color of peanut butter. Be careful not to burn this!

Once you have peanut butter colored roux, slowly stream in the milk, whisking while you pour. Keep whisking until mixture is smooth and thick — about five minutes.

Add the cup of cheese and mix so cheese melts. Add the salt, white pepper and nutmeg. Finally, add the thinly sliced potatoes and toss so all potatoes are coated in the sauce.

While potatoes are baking, mix the remaining half cup of cheese and breadcrumbs together in a small bowl. When the timer goes off, remove the lid and sprinkle this over the potatoes evenly. Bake uncovered for an additional 35-40 minutes until potatoes are tender and top is golden.

My husband loves potatoes au gratin, I will be saving this for a weekend dinner. I already have my Thanksgiving menu planned out which includes your Bourbon Vanilla Cranberry Sauce – I cannot wait to make this :)!
Have a wonderful time in Austin and enjoy your wedding venue search, exciting times my dear! And keep that engagement can’t stop smiling face, love is a beautiful thing!!

I love Austin! Hope you have a great trip. My friend is getting married at the Winfield Inn outside of Austin (in Kyle) next year and it is gorgeous- she also loves working with their wedding coordinators (very responsive, friendly and offering great advice/contacts). If you need another venue option you should check it out: http://www.thewinfieldinn.com/. The best part of visiting this venue? Visiting the Texas Pie Company right afterwards…they have mini pies with Blue Bell ice cream mmmm soooo good. I need to plan another Austin trip asap

Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs is a great venue! My fiance and I were going to get married there, but then changed it to a destination wedding in Mexico since I was accepted into an accelerated nursing school program. Have fun venue shopping and enjoy your stay in Austin!

Welcome to Austin. I wish I would have known you were speaking at BP tonight, would have loved to come support ya. You probably have so many people giving you wedding ideas but here are a few of my favs. Mercury Hall, Laguna Gloria, Lady Bird Wildflower Center. Good luck wedding planning and have a great Thanksgiving in Austin!

I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now and absolutely love it (especially the book reviews). I’ve never commented before, though, but I knew I had to when I saw this post! I also just got engaged and we are also looking to have our wedding in Austin next December. We lived there once a few years ago just for the summer and absolutely fell in love with it. I would LOVE to hear about any venues that you research or hear about in the Austin area! Any chance you could either blog about the venues you visit or e-mail me (just a list would be amazing!)? We’re planning ours from Boston and it’s so hard to sift through all of the possibilities without getting to actually see them in person (as I’m sure it is from CA too!).

I got married at grace united Methodist off congress but we had our reception at the Texas women’s federation mansion off San Gabriel. It’s a beautiful place, and you can choose your own vendors and supply your own alcohol (which saves a ton of money!)

After i wrote my comment and was way bummed that I missed the signing, I decided I MIGHT be able to make it if I jumped in the car right that minute. So glad I did. With only two other people left in line to meet you, I made it! Yea! Can’t wait to read the book!!!

I’ll add another venue to the list (like you need more choices, right?! Haha ;)). It’s The Inn at Wild Rose Hall on Fitzhugh Road off of Highway 290. It was a really lovely venue, and the best part is that you can stay overnight, which is really helpful if you’re going to be DIY-ing a lot of your wedding. http://theinnatwildrosehall.com

Also nice is the fact that it’s right in the middle of the Hill Country AVA, near Dripping Springs and has easy access to south Austin.

Hope you have fun this week! I was sad to have to miss your event at Book People!

Actually, I misstated some information. It doesn’t look like you can spend the night there anymore according to the website. We got married there four years ago, so, things have changed! Still, a lovely venue and really nice premises. Very low-key.

I’m sure this venue is already on your list but I thought I would mention it …. I got married at Chapel Dulcinea just outside of Austin last month and it was the most amazing outdoors venue, special, private, very Texas …. My mum and aunt flew in from Ireland (where I am from) to join us and they just loved it …. After the ceremony we went to Duchman family wineries (which is very close) and then came back into Austin that night for dinner in our favorite Austin restaurant …. It was just perfect (and very relaxed!!)

You know . . . lots of people select Fredericksburg as a wedding venue. Lots of gorgeous venues and b&b’s for guests and wedding party. We get people from all over who have no family here but come here for their wedding. At least, come over some time and spend the day with us!